Electric switch



June 16, 1931. G. A. JOHNSON 1,810,482

ELECTRIC. SWITCH Filed April so. 192s Jr .L Wulf.

Patented .lime 16, 1931 y *UNITED ls'm'ras rArENr omer.

eusrru A. Samsom or NEW BEDEonD, MASSACHUSETTS, AAssIeNoE. 'ro JOHN I,.-

PAULDING, INc., or NEW EEDEoED, MassacHUsEr'rs, A 'CORPORATION 0EMassntog le lever.

CBUBETTB vELEcrEzrcswingen e.

invention relates to electricswitches is' closed or opened byvarocker-'member a"ctuatedvby a spring controlled by a'snap or T e mainobject of the invention is the provisionof aswitch which is efficient inoperation, which is simple and compactin construction, employing aminimum number of parts and whlch may be made and assem- Anotherobjectof the invention is the prol vision of a switch construction in whichthe insulating body is utilized as bearings for the rocker member and.tog le lever thereby eliminating the necessity o yproviding metalableinsulating' material. Centrally located. inthe top or inner face-12' ofthe body isl formed a deeprecessorchamber 14 in which ismounted -arocker member 16 for bridginga pair ofiixed contacts l18"projectingvinto pointed out hereinafter.

lic Abearings for such purpose.

Other objects of the invention will be In the accompanylng drawingsillustrating one embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a plan view ofasingle pole switch con- 2s 'structed in accordance therewith; Fig. 2 isa similarview ofthe same w1ththe cap or cover removed; Fig.3 is avertical central sectional view online'3-3 in Fig. 1; Fig:y 4 isasectional view on line 4 4 in Fig. 2; Flg. 5 is a sectional view on line5-5 in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a planview-of the'rockermember in flat forniAbefore the vcontact portions are .bent upwardly; Fig. 'fis aview 1nperspective of a fixed contact and Fig.8 is a `view 1nperspective ofthebinding screw portion of a fixed contact.-

In the drawings illustratingthe invention there is shown a single poleswitch but the invention is capable of'embodiment in other forms ofswitches by'structural modifications which would be apparent to oneskilled in the art.

' Refe insulating to the drawin 10 indicates lan' dy which may of anysuitable shape but. as shown is circular and which maybe made ofporcelain or any other suit,-

rocker member. To insure a perietnJ contact 'the rocker member whenstamped out has two projections or tongues 23 (Fig. 6) formed atopposite ends of its bottom portion which proections or tongues arelater bent upwardly l o`r engaging the two flxedcontacts flat', wise(Fig. 5). The two contacts are arranged atoneend of the recess butinseparated relation and in a position to be engaged and bridgedfby therocker member when that member is rocked the recess by a screw 28inserted from the bottom or outer face of the body through a bore 30which is enlarged at its outer endi'h-v 32 for receiving the head of thesaid screw. A: small angle piece 34 (Fig. 8) having a threaded hole 36for a binding screw 38 and a threaded hole 40 for the end of the screw28 isv mounted on the squared end 'of each contact, adjacent which is abore .42 throu h' the insulating body for the lead wire to t e bindingscrew. To prevent any possibilityof shortcircuitingbetween thecontactstheblades of the contacts are countersunk in the end wall of therecess v14 so'that there is between them an intervening sectionv oftheinsulating body.

Foi` actuating the rocker member a helical 'spring '44 is loosely,mounted thereon, one

end of the springfitting around an upward ly turned lug 46 formed on thebottom ofthe rocker member and the other end is hooked through a hole 48in a plate 5 0 set in a toglgle lever 52-of insulating material. 'Thetoggle levervis pivotally mounted on a pinA 54 journalled in two uprightlugs or projections tothat end. f The contacts maybe of any suitlo 56formed on the inner face of the insulating body `andintegral therewithand positioned on opposite sides of said recess.- The I times vthetendency of ythe top end of the spring is to assume an olf centerposition and to throw both the toggle lever and rocker member to oneside or the other in an opposite direction (Fig. 3). When the togglelever. isymoved to its opposite position the top end ofthe spring iscarried across the plane of the rocker member and thereupon throws therocker member in the same direction that the toggle lever is moved andthe ycompression of the'spring carries them botli as far as they can goand holds them there..

The movement" ofthe rocker member is limited ofcourse by the walls ofthe recess and the movement of the'toggle member by the oblique edges 58of the plate 50 engaging the top surface of the insulating body. Thetoggle lever has shoulder portions 60 which vmay be marked on theirouter surfacesA with the words On and 0i respectively to indicate aclosed circuit vand an open circuit respectively.' a i .f

For covering the switch mechanism a circular cap or cover 64, having arectan ular opening 66 through which the toggle ever .tions o projectsis mounted on the insulating body 10 and the lange168 of the cap fitsinto an annularv .rim portion 70. The flange of the -cap ma beinsulatedfrom the switch mechanism y `an interior band 72 of aper or otherinsulatin material. For loc 'ng the cap in place, t e flange thereof `isprovided with two interioroppositely disposed locking projections '74(Fig. 4) adapted to interlock with oppositely faced lockin projections76 on the two lugs. Toremove t e cover the flange thereof is pressedinwardly at opposite oints between the locking pro'ections whicfpressure throws outwardly t e porjections and disengages them fromthepro- Lctmns on the lugs whereupon the cap may lifted olf. To return thecap it is merely pressed in place until .the flangelocking projectionssna over the lug rojections.-

For fastening t e switch in a sw1tch box or in place the insulating bodyis provided rwith a pair of screw holes 80having shoulders 82againstwhich abut the heads of the fasten- 1n screws.` n

f lhe assembling of a switch constructed in accordance with my inventionis a very simple matter. The fixed contacts and the angle pieces carryinthe binding screws are mountedin position and fastened by the two screwsdropped into the recess with its jurnalled forms Aof construction withinThe rocker member is then" by pushing the pin through thelever. It

will be observed that in this assembling only l two screws are required,those being used for holding the contacts in position. The rocker memberis loosely mounted in the recess and is held in its bearings by thedownward pressure exerted by the spring which is at all times undercompression. The in 54 inserted through the lugs on the insulating bodyholds the arts in assembled relation. By utilizing the insulating bodyas bearing surfaces for the journals inthe rocker member, I avoid theprovision of metal bearings therefor since I have found that theinsulatingY body will serve this `purpose equally `as well as metalbearings. The walls of the recess limit the throw of the rocker memberand therefore act as stops to limit the movement of that member in bothdirections. By using the lugs molded in the insulating body as supportsfor the spindle, I eliminate the 'necessity of providin a frame or othermetal part for hold- Iing t e toggle member. The result is that theswitch mechanism is made up of a very few parts wwhich can be assembledveryI In the operation of the switch, whenthe toggle lever is thrownover from one position to the other that end of the actuating springconnected to it is thrown across the lane of the rocker member, thespring belng further compressed thereby, so that ythe v force ofthespring is exerted upon the other side of the rocker member to throwit in the same direction that the toggle lever is moved. The actuatingspring being under compression' at all times holds the rocker member andthe flange carryingthe locking proi toggle lever either in a closed oran open position dependent upon the direction in which the toggle leverhas been moved.4

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herein shown anddescribed is merely for purpose of illustration since the invention maybe embodied in various other l the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. An electric switch having. in combinay tion', a one-piece recessedinsulating body having a pair of integral projecting lugs, a pair offixed contacts in said recess, a rocker member loosely mounted in saidrecess for bridging said contacts, a spring for actuating said rockermember and a toggle lever pivotally mounted in and between saidv lugsfor actua-tf' ing the spring.

`2. An electric switch having, in combination, a one-pieceinsulatingbody provided on one face with -a central recess and a pair of integralprojecting lu s, a pair `of fixed contacts meiinted on said ody inseparated relationfadprojecting into said recess, a rocker memberlselymounted in said recess for bridgin said contacts, a spring for actuatingsaidroc er member, a toggle lever pivotally mounted in said body forvactuatlng said spring and a cover adapted to interlock with said lugs.p

3. 'An electric switch having,`in combination, an insulating bodyhavingtwo integral projecting lug portions'on its inner face at opposite sidesthereof, a pair of fixed contacts mountedH on said body in separatedrelation, a rocker member journalled in said' insulating body forbridging said contacts,a spring. for actuating sai rocker member, atoggle lever pivotally mounted in said lugs for actuating said springand a` cover for said switch' adapted to interlock with said lugs.

4. An electric switch having,'in combination, an insulating body havinga .pair of integral projecting .lug portions, a pair of fixed contactsmounted on said body 1n separated relation, a rocker member looselyjournall'edy in said insulating body for bridging said contacts, aspring for actuating said rocker member, a toggle lever pivotallymounted in said insulating body for actuating said spring and a coverfor -said switch having a resilient flange adapted to interlock withsaid lugs.

Y 5. An electric switch having, in'combination, a one-piece insulatingbody havingapair of integral projecting lugs and a recess there nbetween, a pair `lof fixed contacts projecting linto said recess inseparated relat1on,a rocker member mounted in said recess and journalledin said insulating body for bridgin said contacts, a spring foractuating sai rocken-member, a toggle lever pivotally mounted onandbetween said lugs for actuat-y ingsaid spring and a cover mounted onsaid A' body; saidl cover having a fiange provided with meansinterlocking with said lugs-and said flange being resilient to permitinterk locking of said interlocking means when pressure is exerted uponsaid flange intermediate said interlocking means.`

6. An electric switch having, in combination, a one-piece insulatingbody h aving on lts inner face a pair of integral projectlng lugs spacedapart and a recess there between, a

u pair of fixed contacts projecting into said recess in separatedrelation, a rocker member mounted in said recess and journalled in saidinsulating body for bridging said contacts, la spring under compressionat all times for actuating said rocker member and a toggle .leverivotally mounted on and between said lugs or actuating said spring.

. ing said'cover thereon.

7. Anl electric switch having, in combinaition,'aone-pieceinsulatingbody provided with a'rece'ss in one -face 'andtwo integral projecting lug portions, one on each side of said recess, apair of fixed contacts projecting into said recess in separatedrelation, a 'rocker memberv journalled in said insulatin body.

for rocking movement in said recess to rid e said contacts, a springforl actuating .sald rocker member and for holdin it in its bearings anda toggle lever pivotal y mounted on and between said lug portions foractuating said spring. C

n8. An electric switch having, in combination, a one-piece insulatingbody having a recess and projecting lugs, one on each side of saidrecess, a pair of fixed contacts, a rocker `member j ournalled ingrooves in said insulatving body for rocking movement in said re cess tobridge said contacts, a spring for actuating said rocker member and forholding said member in its bearings and atoggielever mounted in andbetween said lugs for actuating said spring. y

9.- An electric switch having, incombination,aone-pieceinsulatingbodyprovidedwith a' recess, a pair oiixed contacts in said recess, a U-shaped rocker member yfor bridgcess,a rocker .member mounted in said recess for brid ng said contacts, aspring foractuating sald rocker member, a toggle lever for actuatingsaid spring and a cover for said switch; said lugs and said r,coverfbeinpro.- vided with interlocking means to Ahol said cover in place.

11. An electric switch having, in combination,r a one-piece recessedinsulating body,l

fixedcontacts in said recess, a rocker member mounted in said recess forbridging said l contacts, said member being journalledin said insulatingbody, a springfor actuating said rocker member, means pivotally mount-led in saldinsulating body for actuati said spring and a cover mounted onsaid bo y and provided with a suitable opening through whichprojectssaid spring actuatin said kcover and said insulating providedwith interlocking mea-ns for holdmeans, y being 12. An electric switchhaving, in combination, a one-piece recessedinsulating body, a pairoffixed contacts mounted in said recess, a rocker member for bridgingsaid contacts,

' lsaid member being loosely mounted in said recess and journalled 1ngrooves 1n said 1nsulating body, aspring for actuating said rockermember and a toggle lever mounted in said insulating body or actuatingsaid. spring, said sprin being connected at one end to said lever an atits other end bearing against said rocker member to hold said member inits bearings.,

13. An electric switch having, irrcombina` tion, a one-pieceinsulatingbody having a pair of projecting lug portions and a central recess therebetween, a in said recess, `a roc er member loosely mounted insaidrecess for bridging said contacts, a spring for actuatingl said rockermember and for holding it in rocking position; a toggle leverpivotally-mounted in and between said lug portions for actuating saidspring to rock said rocker member and a cover for said switch, said lugportions and said cover'being. provided with interlocking means fordetachably holding said cover 1n place.

14. tion, a one-piece insulating body having a pair of projecting lugportions and a central .recess there between, fixed contacts in saidrecess, a' rocker member in said recess for bridging said contacts, anactuating spring, a toggle levermounted in and between said lug portionsfor opera-tin Ysaid spring and a coversaid cover and sai lug portionshavin interlocking projections for' detachably ho ding said cover inplace.

In witness whereof,'I have my hand this 27th day of April, 1929.'

' GUSTAF A. JOHNSON.

ivotally air of fixed .contacts An electric switch having, in combina.

hereunto setV

